June19, 2017

WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this evening made the following statement:

“I extend my deepest condolences to the parents, family and friends of Otto Warmbier.

“Otto was a young man with an incredibly bright future whose liberty—and ultimately whose life—was cut tragically short by the Kim regime in North Korea. The Kim regime’s treatment of Mr. Warmbier is shocking, their ongoing denial of consular access is unacceptable, and this tragedy has shown the world once again the regime’s ruthlessness and complete disregard for human life.

“I call on the Kim regime to immediately release Tony Kim, Kim Hak-song and Kim Dong-Chul—three American citizens currently being held in North Korea. I urge the Administration to make every effort to secure their release and safe return.

“I also remember the millions of North Korean citizens facing daily intimidation, starvation, oppression and persecution at the hands of their own government. The Kim regime is calculated and unrelenting and must be held accountable.”